Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maastricht and Amsterdam

For one person, living is cheaper in Maastricht: $2,656 a month against $3,592 in Amsterdam, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Maastricht, Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Maastricht
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,656
/mo nomad
Amsterdam
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$3,592
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maastricht and in Amsterdam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Maastricht and in Amsterdam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,656 per month in Maastricht vs $3,592 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Maastricht $2,656
  • Amsterdam $3,592

A couple spends around $3,753 per month in Maastricht vs $5,063 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Maastricht $3,753
  • Amsterdam $5,063

A family of three spends $4,850 per month in Maastricht vs $6,533 in Amsterdam, rent included.

  • Maastricht $4,850
  • Amsterdam $6,533

Maastricht is about 26% cheaper than Amsterdam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Maastricht and Amsterdam sit above the global median – Maastricht by 96%, Amsterdam by 166%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.73 €17.64
$22.72 €20.32
-13.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.9 €80.4
$89.7 €80.3
0.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.41 €11.10
$14.38 €12.86
-13.70%
Cappuccino
$4.36 €3.90
$4.65 €4.15
-6.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 €3.43
$3.88 €3.47
-1.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 €2.73
$2.97 €2.66
2.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.57 €7.66
$7.68 €6.86
11.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57 €4.98
$6.80 €6.08
-18.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.15
$1.51 €1.35
-15.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 €2.15
$2.36 €2.11
2.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.60 €2.33
$2.50 €2.24
4.00%
Eggs
$4.56 €4.07
$5.39 €4.82
-15.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.84 €13.27
$16.70 €14.93
-11.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.95 €12.48
$12.89 €11.53
8.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.63 €13.98
$23.63 €21.13
-33.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 €2.38
$2.76 €2.47
-3.62%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 €2.26
$2.81 €2.52
-10.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 €1.69
$2.76 €2.47
-31.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.47 €4.00
$3.89 €3.48
14.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.76
$2.43 €2.17
-19.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 €2.05
$1.71 €1.53
34.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 €1.20
$1.47 €1.31
-8.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 €0.70
$1.68 €1.50
-53.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.84 €12.38
$14.38 €12.86
-3.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.79 €6.07
$8.52 €7.62
-20.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 €1.31
$1.73 €1.55
-15.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 €2.42
$2.63 €2.35
2.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.00 €3.58
$3.71 €3.32
7.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.6 €80.1
$118 €106
-24.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 €4.42
$4.71 €4.21
4.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.51 €3.13
$3.44 €3.07
2.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$67.7 €60.5
$59.6 €53.3
13.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 €2.11
$2.66 €2.38
-11.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.9K €37.5K
$41.4K €37.0K
1.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €35.0K
$38.6K €34.5K
1.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$292 €261
$298 €266
-1.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.83 €15.05
$23.21 €20.75
-27.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.19 €43.98
$52.9 €47.34
-7.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.95 €37.51
$53.4 €47.74
-21.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.89 €24.94
$35.92 €32.12
-22.36%
Cinema Ticket
$15.55 €13.90
$16.96 €15.16
-8.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,102
$2,797 €2,501
-55.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K €11.8K
$23.0K €20.6K
-42.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8 €72.2
$93.8 €83.9
-13.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.07 €34.04
$42.27 €37.80
-9.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 €99.8
$98.3 €87.9
13.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 €115
$133 €119
-2.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,445 €1,292
$2,678 €2,395
-46.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,269 €1,135
$2,065 €1,847
-38.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,312 €2,067
$4,084 €3,652
-43.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 €1,588
$3,160 €2,825
-43.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,381 €4,811
$10.4K €9,344
-48.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,770 €3,371
$6,719 €6,008
-43.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,369 €3,012
$4,789 €4,282
-29.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.42
3.3
33.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Maastricht: November 3, 2026

Last update for Amsterdam: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Maastricht
$1.3K
Amsterdam
$2.1K 62.8% $797
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maastricht
$358
Amsterdam
$374 4.4% $16
Groceries & Markets
Maastricht
$337
Amsterdam
$385 14.3% $48
Eating Out
Maastricht
$329
Amsterdam
$360 9.5% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Maastricht
$162
Amsterdam
$165 2.2% $3.5
Getting Around
Maastricht
$128
Amsterdam
$155 21.1% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Maastricht
$73
Amsterdam
$87 19.5% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,445 in Maastricht versus $2,678 in Amsterdam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Amsterdam. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90 in Maastricht versus $90 in Amsterdam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $385 – making Maastricht the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Maastricht
🇳🇱 Amsterdam
🕒 Local time
00:23 12:23 AM
00:23 12:23 AM
Same time as Maastricht
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,105
881,933 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 0.894 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Maastricht Amsterdam 180 km
From you
  • Maastricht
  • Amsterdam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Maastricht vs Amsterdam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maastricht cheaper than Amsterdam?
Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 35%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,983 per month in Maastricht and $5,388 in Amsterdam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maastricht, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,445 there versus $2,678 in Amsterdam.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Maastricht. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Maastricht and in Amsterdam?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Amsterdam, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Maastricht or in Amsterdam?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,656 in Maastricht and $3,592 in Amsterdam. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Maastricht or Amsterdam more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maastricht – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Maastricht or Amsterdam?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maastricht. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amsterdam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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